Sliver coiler



Jan. 24, 1967 A. B. NIVENS SLIVER COILER Filed Jan. 22, 1965 INVENTOR.ALLEN B. N \VE-NS ww%ww ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,299,479 SLIVERCOILER Allen B. Nivens, Gastonia, N.C., assignor to Ideal IndustriesInc., Bessemer City, NC, a corporation of North Carolina Filed Jan. 22,1965, Ser. No. 427,349 5 Claims. (Cl. 19-159) This invention pertains to'a sliver coiler and, more particularly, to such a coiler having aturntable capable of accommodating :and properly supporting varioustypes of conventional coiler cans including those coiler cans supportedby a number of depending casters.

Sliver coilers have long been used in textile manufacturing processes toform a textile fiber material into a package which may be easilytransported between the various stages of manufacture and supplied fromthe operation at which it is coiled to the next subsequent operation.Traditionally, textile sliver has been packaged by a sliver coiler intoa coiler can, and the coiler can transported by an operator from thelocation of one operation to the location of the next subsequentoperation. In the past, coiler cans were of relatively small diameter,and were not overly heavy when tilled. Such a coiler can could be easilyslid over a floor, whether empty or full, to move the can from oneoperation location to the next. An operator, in moving cans, could Igripup to six cans at a time and slide the cans along on their bottomflanges.

More recently, it has become desirable to realize economies byprocessing textile sliver in larger packages. In the instance of sliverpackaged by a coiler, this has required a larger diameter coiler can.Initially, such cans were constructed identically to older smallerdiameter cans, with a bottom portion having a peripheral annulardepending flange and a recessed bottom wall. In using such largerdiameter cans, it was observed that the cans did not so easily slidealong the floor, as did the older, smaller diameter cans, and it becamenecessary for an operator to markedly reduce the number of canstransported at any one time, destroying the economies realized from theuse of larger packages In order to ease the movement of the newer largerdiameter cans, and again make it possible for an operator to move a morenormal load of cans, the larger diameter cans were provided withcasters, usually mounted on the bottom wall of the can, depending belowthe peripheral annular flange, so that the can was free to roll acrossthe floor when empty or loaded.

This approach solved the problem of an operator moving a large number ofcans across the floor, and created an additional problem in supportingcans on a sliver coiler. With the older, smaller diameter coiler cans,the coiler turntable had been merely a flat plate, provided with somemeans for holding the coiler can centered beneath the coiler head. Thefrictional engagement of the peripheral flange of the bottom portion ofthe can with the fiat turntable was entitrely adequate to drive the canin rotation beneath the coiler head, as is required to package sliver ina coiler. With the advent of caster mounted cans, such frictionalengagement no longer existed, as the depending casters engaged the flatturntable and the coiler can was free t6 roll on the turntable insteadof being driven in rotation. Various solutions to this problem wereproposed, with the solutions generally dependent upon relativelyexpensive modification of the coiler turntable to provide recesses,pockets, or stops to capture the casters as the turntable rotated anddrive the can in rotation by engaging the casters. Many such modifiedcoiler turntables depended upon the capture of the casters to center thecan under the coiler head, and few were capable 3,299,479 Patented Jan.24, 1967 "ice of properly supporting both caster mounted cans and canshaving no casters.

Currently, in pursuing greater efliciency, textile manufacturers havefound it advisable to introduce the use of even larger coiler cans. Withsuch larger coiler cans, the diameter of the bottom wall becomes such,that, considering the materials which may economically be used to formthe bottom wall, the wall is flexible to a certain degree. As such alarger diameter coiler can becomes loaded, the bottom wall flexesdownwardly under the weight of sliver in the can, and it has been foundadvisable to mount an additional caster centrally of the bottom wall, toproperly support that Wall when the can is fully loaded. When a coilercan carries such a centrally mounted caster, the caster interferes withthe structure of known modified turntables which have previously beenavailable to support a caster type coiler can, and the can cannot bemounted on such a turntable.

The sliver coiler oi. this invention, and more particularly theturntable of this invention, avoids these deficiencies of prior artsliver coilers by properly receiving and supporting the various types ofcoiler cans now in use. Where a traditional type of coiler can, having adepending bottom flange, is used, the can is properly received andsupported for rotation in a central position beneath the coiler head.Further, the turntable of this invention accommodates caster mountedcoiler cans of both the type having no central caster and the typehaving a central caster to prevent excessive flexing of the bottom Wall.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedsliver coiler having a turntable which accommodates various types ofcoiler cans, having casters or no casters, to support a coiler can anddrive it in rotation centered below the coiler head.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved slivercoiler turntable adapted to accommodate traditional coiler cans havingno depending casters, coiler cans having depending casters but nocentral caster, and coiler cans having depending casters and a centrallypositioned depending caster.

Some of the objetcs of the invention having been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a sliver coiler incorporating this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a sliver coiler turntable constructedin accordance with this invention and one type of coiler can which isaccommodated by the coiler turntable of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side view, in section, of portions of a sliver coilerconstructed in accordance with this invention and one type of coiler canmounted on the coiler for use; and

FIGURE 4 is a detailed view, in perspective and partial section, of aportion of the coiler turntable of this invention illustrating amodification .for use with a coiler can having a central dependingcaster.

Briefly, the sliver coiler of this invention incorporates a turntablehaving a planar portion positioned to receive the peripheral flange ofthe bottom portion of a coiler can of any one of various types. Theturntable also has an upstanding rim inwardly of the planar portionwhich is adapted to extend within the peripheral flange of the bottomportion of the coiler can, to prevent lateral displacement of the canwith respect to the turntable and hold the can in a central positionbeneath the coiler head. Inwardly of the upstanding rim is a recessedportion which is spaced below the planar portion a distance greater thanthe distance a caster would depend below the peripheral flange of acoiler can, in order to assure that the coiler can is supported solelyby the peripheral flange. A radially directed, upstanding rib extendsinwardly from the rim, to engage a caster and positively drive the canin rotation with the turntable, should any slippage occur while the canis supported by the peripheral flange. A raised central portion isprovided in the turntable, which may be built up, if desired, so that itis recessed below the planar portion a distance only slightly greaterthan the distance a central caster depends at the time a coiler canhaving such a caster is not loaded. As such a can having a centralcaster becomes loaded with sliver, the downward flexing of the bottomwall of the bottom portion of the can brings the central caster intoengagement with the central portion of the turntable and supports thebottom of the can against excessive fiexure.

Turning to the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a side view of a coiler constructedin accordance with this invention. As generally well known to personsskilled in the construction of textile sliver coilers, the coilerincludes a base 10, a coiler pedestal 11, and a coiler head 12. A coilerplatform 13 is rotatably supported on the base 10, and is adapted toreceive and support a coiler can 14, of any one of various types, intowhich a textile sliver S is packed by the coiler head 12. As is wellknown, the coiler turntable 13 is driven in rotation in conjunction withthe operation of the coiler head 12 and drives the coiler can 14.

The particular construction of the coiler turntable 13 is more clearlyshown in FIGURES 24. As there shown, the coiler turntable 13 comprises acircular plate supported on the coiler base for rotation and fixed to aturntable drive gear 15 within the base 10. The turntable drive gear isengaged by a driving gear 16 which is part of a drive train connected tothe mechanism of the coiler head 12. This drive train terminating in thedrive gear 16 may be entirely conventional.

The circular plate has an annular planar portion 17 formed adjacent thecircumferential periphery of the plate, and a proper diameter and widthto receive and support the peripheral flange 18 adjacent the bottomportion of a coiler can 14. The circular plate also has an upstandingrim 20 inwardly of and immediately adjacent to the planar portion 17. Asbest shown in FIGURE 3, the upstanding rim 20 is adapted to extendupwardly within the peripheral flange 18 of a coiler can 14. The purposeof the upstanding rim 20 is to prevent lateral movement of a coiler can14 which is positioned on the coiler turntable 13. This is necessary toassure that the coiler can 14 is centered beneath the coiler head 12,and cannot be laterally displaced from the correct centered position.

Inwardly of and adjacent to the upstanding rim 20, the circular platehas an inwardly and downwardly sloping shoulder 21. The purpose of thisshoulder 21 can be most readily understood from FIGURE 3. There, onetype of coiler can 14 has a number of casters 22 fixed to the recessedbottom wall 23 which is part of the bottom portion of the can. Thecasters 22 here shown are of a swivel type, in which the caster wheelmay take various positions around its vertical axis of attachment to thebottom wall 23. In certain instances, when such a coiler can isinitially positioned on or over the coiler turntable 13, the casters 22are so turned as to position the caster wheels adjacent the peripheralflange 18 of the bottom portion of the coiler can. When this conditionoccurs, the wheel of a caster 22 will engage the shoulder 21, and becammed away from its position adjacent the peripheral flange 18.

In order to assure that a coiler can 14 is supported only at theperipheral flange 18, by the engagement of that flange with the planarportion 17 of coiler turntable 13, this invention provides a recessedplanar portion 24 inwardly of the downwardly and inwardly slopingshoulder 21. The recessed planar portion 24 is recessed a distance belowthe planar portion 17 greater than the dis tance that a caster 22depends below the peripheral flange 13. This relationship is made clearin the sectional view of FIGURE 3. As shown there, when a coiler can 14of the type having casters 22 mounted on the bottom closure wall 23 ispositioned on the coiler turntable of this invention, the casters 22 donot extend downwardly sufficiently to engage the recessed planar portion24, and the can 14 is thus supported solely at the peripheral flange 18.Further, supporting the can 14 in this manner assures that the can isnot free to easily rotate relative to the coiler turntable 13, whichwould occur where the casters 22 could rest upon the circular plate ofthe turntable, as in prior art constructions.

The coiler turntable 13 of this invention has a central raised portion25 which performs several functions. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 3,the raised central portion 25 provides a point of attachment to theturntable gear 15. Further, the central portion 25 may be built up withwashers 26, as shown in FIGURE 4, to provide a central support for onetype of coiler can 14. As mentioned above, certain larger diametercoiler cans now coming into use employ a central caster in order tosupport the bottom wall 23 against excessive fiexure when the can isloaded with sliver. Such a central caster 27 is illustrated as a phantomelement in FIGURES 2 and 3, where it is shown in dash-dot lines. Wherethe turntable of this invention is to be used with such a coiler canhaving a central caster 27, the central portion 25 of the circular plateis built up with washers 26 until the central portion and washers arerecessed below the planar portion 17 which receives the peripheralflange 18 of the coiler can 14 a distance only slightly greater than thedistance that the central caster 27 depends below the peripheral flange18 when the coiler can is empty. Thus, when the can is initiallypositioned on the turntable, the central caster 27 is above and out ofengagement with the washers 26 fixed to the central portion 25.Subsequently, as the can fills and the bottom wall 23 flexes downwardly,the central caster 27 engages the washers 26 and is supported to preventexcessive fiexure of the bottom wall 23 of the coiler can 14. The numberof washers 26 used to build up the central portion 25 may be varied, inorder to accommodate a specific type of coiler can chosen for use by anymill.

In order to assure that a coiler can 14 is positively driven in rotationshould the frictional engagement of the peripheral flange 18 and planarportion 17 prove insuflicient, this invention provides a radiallydirected upstanding rib 28. As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the rib 28extends inwardly from the sloping shoulder 21 toward the central portion25. The radial rib 28 projects upwardly from the recessed planar portion24 a distance sufficient to engage a caster 22 should there be anyrelative rotation between the can 14 and coiler turntable 13, as madeclear in FIGURE 3.

In operation, a coiler can of any of the various types described ispositioned on the coiler turntable, with the peripheral depending flangeat the bottom portion of the can engaging the planar portion of theturntable. The coiler can is supported by this engagement and carriedwith the turntable by the frictional force of this engagement, as theturntable is driven in rotation by the coiler mechanism. Should thecoiler can be of the type employing casters depending below theperipheral flange at the bottom portion of the can, the casters aresupported out of engagement with the coiler turntable 13, and the can issupported and centered by the cooperation of the peripheral flange,planar portion and upstanding rim. Should the coiler can be of the typeemploying a central depending caster, the fiexure of the bottom wall ofthe can as the can is loaded causes the central caster to engage theraised central portion of the turntable, and the bottom wall issupported against excessive fiexure.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

1. A rotatable platform for a textile sliver coiler adapted to receiveand support for rotation conventional types of coiler cans having abottom portion formed with a peripheral annular flange and a recessedbottom wall and having casters depending below the annular flange, therotatable platform comprising a circular plate having an annular planarportion adapted to receive the bottom flange of a coiler can, anupstanding rim disposed inwardly of and immediately adjacent said planarportion and adapted to be disposed within the flange of a can to preventlateral displacement of a can on the platform, a second annular planarportion disposed inwardly of and adjacent the rim and recessed below thefirst named planar portion and adapted to be out of contact with andunderlie casters depending from a coiler can, and a raised portiondisposed centrally of the plate and recessed below the first namedplanar portion.

2. A rotatable platform as claimed in claim 1 further comprising theplate having an inwardly and downwardly sloping shoulder intermediatethe rim and the recessed annular planar portion for camming castersinwardly away from the rim when such a coiler can is positioned on theplatform.

3. A rotatable platform as claimed in claim 1 further comprising theplate having an upstanding radial rib extending upwardly from therecessed annular planar portion and adapted to engage a caster extendingbelow the bottom flange of a coiler can for assuring rotation of such acan with the platform.

4. A rotatable platform for a textile sliver coiler adapted to receiveand support for rotation conventional types of coiler cans having abottom portion formed with a peripheral annular flange and a recessedbottom wall and having casters depending below the annular flange, therotatable platform comprising a circular plate having an annular planarportion adapted to receive the bottom flange of a coiler can, anupstanding rim disposed inwardly of and immediately adjacent said planarportion and adapted to be disposed within the flange of a can to preventlateral displacement of a can on the platform, an inwardly anddownwardly sloping shoulder disposed inwardly of and immediatelyadjacent the upstanding rim and adapted to cam casters inwardly awayfrom the rim when a can having casters is positioned on the platform, asecond annular planar portion disposed inwardly of and adjacent theshoulder and recessed below the first named planar portion and adaptedto be out of contact with and underlie casters depending from a coilercan, an upstanding radial rib extending upwardly from the second planarportion and adapted to engage a caster extending below the bottom flangeof a coiler can for assuring rotation of such a can with the platform,and a raised portion disposed centrally of the plate and recessed belowthe first named planar portion.

5. A rotatable platform as claimed in claim 4 in which the centralraised portion comprises at least one replaceable element effective tovary the height of the central portion above said last named planarportion, by which the central raised portion is adapted to at timesserve as a support for a central caster of a coiler can when the bottomof such a can flexes downwardly on loading.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,269,816 6/1918Hubbard 28-21 2,916,780 12/1959 Richardson et al. 19-159 3,028,6374/1962 Van Deusen 19159 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,657 1899 Great Britain.23,064 1896 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

I. C. WADDEY, IR., Assistant Examiner.

1. A ROTATABLE PLATFORM FOR A TEXTILE SILVER COILER ADAPTED TO RECEIVEAND SUPPORT FOR ROTATION CONVENTIONAL TYPES OF COILER CANS HAVING ABOTTOM PORTION FORMED WITH A PERIPHERAL ANNULAR FLANGE AND A RECESSEDBOTTOM WALL AND HAVING CASTERS DEPENDING BELOW THE ANNULAR FLANGE, THEROTATABLE PLATFORM COMPRISING A CIRCULAR PLATLE HAVING AN ANNULAR PLANARPORTION ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE BOTTOM FLANGE OF A COILER CAN, ANUPSTANDING RIM DISPOSED INWARDLY OF AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID PLANARPORTION AND ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED WITHIN THE FLANGE OF A CAN TO PREVENTLATERAL DISPLACEMENT OF A CAN ON THE PLATFORM, A SECOND ANNULAR PLANARPORTION DISPOSED INWARDLY OF AND ADJACENT THE RIM AND RECESSED BELOW THEFIRST NAMED PLANAR PORTION AND ADAPTED TO BE OUT OF CONTACT WITH ANDUNDERLIE CASTERS DEPENDING FROM A COILER CAN, AND A RAISED PORTIONDISPOSED CENTRALLY OF THE PLATE AND RECESSED BELOW THE FIRST NAMEDPLANAR PORTION.